The Canary Report

A toxic emissions spill at a BP refinery in Texas makes area residents ill; a $10 billion class-action lawsuit is filed

Posted on Aug 30, 2010 by Susie Collins in Blog, Environment, Susie Collins

The New York Times reports while the world was focused on the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico, a BP refinery in Texas released huge amounts of toxic chemicals into the air that went unnoticed by residents until many saw their children come down with respiratory problems.

While we were busy paying attention to the health affects of the BP oil well blow out in the Gulf, a community in Texas was dealing with the aftermath of a BP refinery spewing out huge amounts of toxic chemicals into the air during an accident.

The New York Times reports With Neighbors Unaware, Toxic Spill at a BP Plant.

For 40 days in April-May, 538,000 pounds of toxic chemicals poured out of the refinery following an equipment failure. Environmentalists say the release of toxic gases ranked as one of the largest in the state’s history. Most households in one area close to the spill had at least one family member fall ill during the month of the accident, including many children. Residents are so angry, they’ve filed a $10 billion class-action lawsuit against BP.

[The] final report said the release of chemicals had gone on for 959 hours, until May 16. Among other pollutants, the plant had released 17,000 pounds of benzene; 37,000 pounds of nitrogen oxides, which can cause respiratory problems; and 186,000 pounds of carbon monoxide. Another 262,000 pounds of various volatile organic compounds also escaped.

“The state’s investigation shows that BP’s failure to properly maintain its equipment caused the malfunction and could have been prevented,” the attorney general’s office said in a statement.

Of interest to Canary Report readers is that current research shows both carbon monoxide and volatile organic compounds or VOCs can initiate Multiple Chemical Sensitivity in susceptible individuals. (The seven main classes of chemicals that can initiate cases of Multiple Chemical Sensitivity include three classes of pesticides: organophosphorus and carbamate pesticides, the organochlorine pesticides and the pyrethroid pesticides. Other types of chemicals reported to initiate cases of MCS include organic compounds, mercury, hydrogen sulfide and carbon monoxide. See the peer-reviewed MCS research of biochemist Martin Pall for further information.)

How many new cases of Multiple Chemical Sensitivity have been initiated through the negligence of BP in these recent accidents in the Gulf and in Texas is anyone’s guess at this point.

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Tags: Air, Canary's Cry, Chemicals, Children's Health, Environment, MCS, Multiple Chemical Sensitivity, Pollution, Research, Toxic

Perfume, poisoning, and green spaces

Posted on Oct 22, 2009 by Susie Collins in Blog, Linda Sepp, Media/Videos, News

Canary’s Cry.

Post by Linda Sepp.

Green and Save reports on Perfume and Colognes: Dangerously Chemical.

CTV News reports that getting the recommended treatment for severe carbon-monoxide poisoning depends on where you live in Canada and who your doctor is.

CBC News reports green spaces boost the body and the mind.

Reuters reports polluted air may give you a headache.

Building Green reports on an EPA warning: Older buildings may harbor PCBs.

The Canadian Center for Occupational Safety reports a webinar will be held on ototoxic industrial chemicals and potentially harmful exposure. Dr. Thais Morata of the U.S. National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health will discusses the effects of chemical agents, the interaction between these agents and noise, and strategies for preventing work-related hearing loss.

The Star reports Web surfing boosts brain circuitry in older adults.

King’s College London reports on research showing pesticides exposure is linked to suicidal thoughts. Full article here.

The Wall Street Journal reports a bill backed by industry and environmental groups would set federal limits on a potentially dangerous chemical inside your home: formaldehyde.

Best selling author Barbara Ehrenreich has a new book out, Bright-sided: How the Relentless Promotion of Positive Thinking Has Undermined America. I just saw her talking about it on the Daily Show and she was brilliant. She said there’s an empathy deficit (no kidding). She also said, “I never think delusion is ok.” YAY for speaking up!

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The health and ability for those with environmental sensitivities rests with the choices and actions of others. For more information, see The Medical Perspective on Environmental Sensitivities.

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Tags: Air, Books, Canary's Cry, Chemicals, Environment, Environmental Health, Fragrance, Home, Indoor Pollution, Perfume, Pesticides, Products, Research, Toxic, Video, Work

Mosquitoes, vets, and pesticides

Posted on Jul 01, 2009 by Susie Collins in Blog, Media/Videos, News

Who’s chirping about Multiple Chemical Sensitivity?

Lake County News, Chicago, reports on mosquito spraying this Sunday, saying that people with chemical sensitivities “may want to keep their windows and doors closed during spraying.” Oh yeah, thanks, that’s gonna help.

In a related story, WAFF48 News reports foggers spray for the pests in and around neighborhoods but some fear those chemicals could be endangering water supplies. And what about the people and other living things?

WBOY reports Iraq war veteran Ronald Mayle, Jr. was a member of the 1092nd Engineering Battalion who came into contact with sodium dichromate, a anti-corrosive agent. Today, Mayle has health complications including chemical sensitivity, respiratory problems, and throat cysts.

The Dickinson State University Foundation communication director reports in The Dickinson Press that his exposure to pesticides when he sprayed crops during his high school and college years resulted in his being so chemically sensitive that “I can tell you what perfume a woman on the opposite side of the Mall of America is wearing, and cleaning a bathtub with your average powdered cleaner crumbles me like kryptonite does Superman.”

Rebecca Artman of PANDORA reports at Pro Health that a bill to fund a Neuroendocrine Immune Disorder Center of Excellence in New Jersey is approved by Assembly, and now goes before the NJ House. The research center would be dedicated to Chronic Fatigue Syndrome/Myalgic Encephalopathy, fibromyalgia, Gulf War Illness, Lyme disease, Multiple Chemical Sensitivity, and other environmental illnesses. PANDORA is the non-profit Patient Alliance for Neuroendocrineimmune Disorders Organization for Research and Advocacy based in Coral Gables, Florida. Link to full text of the NJ resolution.

Photo credit.

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Tags: Canary's Cry, Chemicals, Children's Health, Environment, Environmental Health, Indoor Pollution, MCS, Multiple Chemical Sensitivity, Pesticides, Stink, Toxic, Water

Parkinson’s, chemicals, and polluted waterways

Posted on Apr 19, 2009 by Susie Collins in Blog, Environment, Media/Videos, News

Canary’s Cry for Sunday, April 19

The Los Angeles Times reports Parkinson’s is partially linked to pesticides.

The Washington Post reports endocrine disruptors pollute the Potomac.

Related: PBS reports airing of “Poisoned Waters” on Frontline, Tuesday, April 21 at 9:00 p.m. Frontline examines the newest health hazards in nation’s contaminated waterways: chemicals in consumers’ face creams, deodorants, prescription medicines and household cleaners that find their way into sewers, storm drains, and eventually into America’s waterways and drinking water.

Chicago Tribune reports on poison in the well: Crestwood officials cut corners and supplied residents with tainted water for two decades.

AP reports a large chemical spill early Saturday at an east-central Ohio plant spawned a massive vapor cloud that took hours to dissipate.

The Connecticut Post reports the state is moving closer to banning bisphenol-A, or BPA, a chemical commonly used to harden plastic and make it shatterproof, and to line the insides of certain food containers. It’s often found in baby bottles. Reacting to scientific concerns about abnormalities and cancers thought to be caused by BPA, officials in Canada last year banned the use of the substance in baby products; the declaration became official this past weekend. Other entities in this country are following suit, with Suffolk County, N.Y., becoming the first government in the nation to enact a ban.

In Canada, The Star reports Premier Dalton McGuinty has broken another election campaign promise, this time to reduce the amount of poisonous chemicals industries put into the environment.

SF Gate reports activist crusades against toxic waste in Russia.

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Tags: Air, Canary's Cry, Children's Health, Cosmetics, Environment, Environmental Health, Indoor Pollution, MCS, Multiple Chemical Sensitivity, Personal Care, Pesticides, Toxic, Water

Paint, pesticides, and formaldehyde

Posted on Apr 17, 2009 by Susie Collins in Blog, Media/Videos, News

Canary’s Cry for Friday, April 17

WebMD reports a team of South Dakota scientists has invented a new super-paint strong enough to kill superbugs that infect hospital patients and kill thousands of people annually. The paint, which is designed to decorate and disinfect homes, businesses, and health care settings, kills disease-causing bacteria, mold, fungi, and viruses, according to research published in the American Chemical Society’s journal, Applied Materials & Interfaces. I nearly have a seizure just thinking about how toxic that paint must be!

The Washington Post reports the EPA will mandate tests on 67 pesticide chemicals, with the goal of gauging risk of endocrine disruptors to humans and animals. My understanding is that the science is already there showing without a shadow of a doubt that certain pesticides are indeed endocrine disruptors and should be pulled off the market. Let’s hope the chemical industry doesn’t continue to weaken and prolong the review process to the point of ineffectiveness as they’ve successfully done for decades.

The Washington Post reports the new EEOC headquarters in DC is contaminated with formaldehyde and making the office workers really sick. Hey, maybe they should make all former FEMA management go work at EEOC just to see how it feels after their wonderful handling of the Katrina mobile trailers.

PoynterOnline reports EPA warns about spot-on flea prevention meds for pets but FAILS to tell people to stop using it.

Fosters.com reports new research conducted at the University of New Hampshire Stormwater Center indicates pavement sealcoat may contribute to increasingly significant amounts of polyaromatic hydrocarbons entering waterways from storm-water runoff.

Thanks, Bobby, for contributing to this report!

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Tags: Air, Canary's Cry, Chemicals, Children's Health, Environment, EPA, Indoor Pollution, Mold, Pesticides, Pet Care, Pollution, Sick Building, Work

Editor perpetuates myth about Multiple Chemical Sensitivity

Posted on Apr 06, 2009 by Susie Collins in Blog, MCS, Susie Collins

Says professional editor Jon Vara: “I believe that there’s a substantial body of evidence suggesting that multiple chemical sensitivity DOES exist but that it’s a psychosomatic problem, not a physiological one.”

Let’s get the facts straight right off the bat: There is NOT a substantial body of evidence suggesting Multiple Chemical Sensitivity is psychosomatic. In fact, quite the opposite is true: A substantial body of peer-reviewed studies show MCS is real and the result of toxic chemicals harming people physiologically and neurologically.

The discussion starts here:

[...]

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Tags: Canary's Cry, Chemicals, Children's Health, Environment, Environmental Illness, Government Regulation, Home, Indoor Pollution, Law, MCS, Multiple Chemical Sensitivity, Policy

Monsanto, nanoparticles, and greenwashing

Posted on Apr 03, 2009 by Susie Collins in Blog, News

Canary’s Cry for Friday, April 3

Monsanto wants to play with us on the interwebs. The darling kids at Monsanto’s public relations department have started a cute little blog, where they write about their adorable co-workers and how they are all just like us. Oh, and also about how green Monsanto is.

Related: WebEcoist reports on the world’s 10 worst greenwashers. Oh look, there’s Monsanto:

Monsanto, the world’s largest seed and pesticide company, is working to convince us that they are supporters of sustainable agriculture – all while monopolizing and homogenizing the world’s food supply. Hardly sustainable. Monsanto, the maker of toxic pesticide RoundUp, has a long history of producing genetically modified seeds, including ‘terminator’ seeds that cannot reproduce on their own, forcing farmers to go back to Monsanto again and again for more seeds.  They’re also the creators of rGBH (recombinant bovine growth hormone), which is given to cows to increase production and often ends up in our water supply.

Environmental Working Group‘s Skin Deep Cosmetics Database reports on What Not To Buy when shopping for cosmetics:

Major gaps in public health laws allow cosmetics companies to use almost any ingredient they choose in everything from sunscreen and mascara to deodorant and baby shampoo, with no restrictions and no requirement for safety testing. To help you navigate your store’s aisles, Environmental Working Group researchers have scoured thousands of ingredient labels to bring you our top recommendations for what not to buy — products with worrisome or downright dangerous ingredients that don’t belong in your shopping cart or on your skin. Read more about why this matters.

Environmental Health News reports nanoparticles in sunscreens, cosmetics and other consumer products may pose risks to the environment by damaging beneficial microbes.

The Environmental Protection Agency reports on the latest information on toxic chemical releases. Releases are down overall, but mercury and PCBs are up.

The Campaign for Safe Cosmetics reports on contaminants in children’s bath and personal care products.

Green Directory Montana reports on non-organic panic.

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Tags: Canary's Cry, Chemicals, Children's Health, Cosmetics, Environment, EPA, Personal Care, Pesticides, Products, Toxic

Asthma, chemical makers, and coal ash

Posted on Mar 02, 2009 by Susie Collins in Blog, News

Canary’s Cry for Monday, March 2 

The John Hopkins News-Letter reports air particles raise risk of childhood asthma. Particulate matter can include dust, car exhaust, chemicals released while cooking and cleaning, smoke, pollen and fungal spores, among others.

MSNBC reports chemical makers stand to get a boost as an indirect recipient of the billions in government money promised in the stimulus package signed by President Obama last week. Of the $787 billion in the stimulus bill, at least one-tenth is allocated to projects that could benefit chemical makers.

Times Free Press reports a third of the people living near the toxic coal ash spill from a Tennessee Valley Authority power plant are reporting respiratory problems and about half have experienced increased stress and anxiety, according to a Tennessee Department of Health survey. Environmental groups say the accident was proof of the danger of lax regulation of coal ash storage.

The Courier Express reports on a veteran and his familiy forced out of their home due to toxic mold.

Oregon Environmental News reports there are 175 toxic chemicals worth tracking in Oregon waterways.

Photo by mag3737

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Tags: Air, Asthma, Canary's Cry, Chemicals, Environment, Home, Mold, Policy, Products, Toxic, Water

CNN’s Campbell Brown flees apartment contaminated with toxic mold

Posted on Feb 27, 2009 by Susie Collins in Blog, Home & Garden

Spotting something on the wall of her apartment that looked odd, Campbell Brown was convinced it was mold and that her son was showing symptoms of exposure.

The Daily News reports CNN’s Campbell Brown and her family were forced to leave their apartment when she discovered toxic mold was the reason her baby “developed a cold that wouldn’t end.”

Just before the inauguration, and after months of struggling with her baby’s unexplained illness, Campbell, her child and her husband, Dan Senor, were forced to flee their mold-ridden apartment without their belongings.

“When something like this happens,” Brown told the Daily News, “you become an expert in toxic mold. But I certainly realized how fortunate that I am, in this economic climate, that we had the ability to get out. When they said, ‘You need to get your baby and get out now,’ we were able to get out.”

Link to full report at The Daily News.

Thanks, Linda!

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Tags: Canary's Cry, Children's Health, Environmental Illness, Health, Home, Indoor Pollution, Mold, Toxic, Work

Canary’s Cry for January 30

Posted on Jan 30, 2009 by Susie Collins in Blog, News

The Environmental News Service reports the Canadian government declared chemicals used in cosmetics to be toxic.

HealthZone reports that toxic air raises risk of death.

The Los Angeles Times reports pool workers poured large amounts of chlorine and acid down a rooftop drain causing a gas cloud in a nearby Metro station. Officials initially suspected terrorism.

The State Journal Register in Illinois reports tenants of 10 apartments in the Macoupin County Housing Authority complex have signed a petition complaining of mold problems.

Globe and Mail reports food may not be sole BPA source.

Science Direct reports on a study about the association between prenatal exposure to phthalates and the health of newborns.

Environmental Health News reports plasticizer is related to lower hormone levels in men and that phthalates worsen skin allergies in newborn mice exposed through their mothers.

Photo by Auntie P

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Tags: Air, Canary's Cry, Chemicals, Children's Health, Cosmetics, Environment, Health, Home, Indoor Pollution, Mold, Pollution, Products, Research

Canary’s Cry for Saturday, January 10

Posted on Jan 10, 2009 by Susie Collins in Blog, News

The Soil Science Society of America reports on an Oregon study showing Low Level Herbicide Use Can Damage Potato Reproduction. Field trials were conducted to determine if potato vegetative growth and tuber yield and quality were affected by herbicides at below recommended field rates. In the study, potato plants were exposed to one of seven different herbicides at various concentrations below normal field application rates. The trials demonstrated that potato tuber yield and quality can be affected by herbicide application rates those causing a reduction in vegetative growth or injury.

Scientific American reports on New Study: Autism Linked to Environment. California’s sevenfold increase in autism is most likely is due to environmental exposures, University of California scientists reported Thursday. The scientists who authored the new study advocate a nationwide shift in autism research to focus on potential factors in the environment that babies and fetuses are exposed to, including pesticides, viruses and chemicals in household products.

The Wisconsin State Journal says Outdoor Wood Boilers under Fire. The problem is a home furnace called an outdoor wood boiler. The furnaces are designed to burn wood, wood pellets or corn in an outdoor shed, heating water that is piped into the house. Unlike a wood stove or a campfire, however, wood boilers give off copious amounts of smoke. And that is prompting the Madison City Council to consider regulating the furnaces.

The Modesto Bee reports the Home Depot in Ceres Emptied as Pool Chemicals Burn. The store was evacuated Friday morning after a fire broke out and damaged pool chemical containers that released toxic fumes into the air, fire officials said. Flames damaged the chemical containers, which included chlorine and other pool cleaning supplies. Customers and employees were evacuated, and one employee who wasn’t feeling well was taken to a hospital as a precautionary measure.

Photo by Scott Bauer at USDA.

Thanks, Linda, for potato and autism stories!

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Tags: Air, Canary's Cry, Chemicals, Pesticides, Pollution, Research, Toxic